Conversion accessory for vending machines

ABSTRACT

A vending machine conversion device to enable elongated articles of merchandise to be dispensed from vending machines which normally dispense short blocky-type articles of merchandise. The conversion device consists of an elongated transparent tube, which may be plastic, secured to the vending machine so that each tube may occupy a chute, from which merchandise has been previously vended, which tube is held a spaced distance above the merchandise support member, so that merchandise may be ejected at an angle by an ejector that is of lesser height than the length of the merchandise. The transparent tube is supported a spaced distance below the top of the vending machine to enable ready insertion of merchandise into the tubes form which it is vended. The tubes are readily removable and replaceable when desired or may be removed from the machine to enable the machine to be used as originally designed, in a minimum of time.

United States Patent 2,700,586 1/1955 Shepherd,

[72] Inventor EarlJamesCorbin 22:4 Holliday. Wichita Falls, Tex. 7630] Primary Examiner David M. Bockenek gir -g NO Sing-g 1969 Atmrney-Wayland D. Keith [45] Patented July 6, 1971 ABSTRACT: A vending machine conversion device to enable elongated articles of merchandise to be dispensed from vendl54] ACCESSORY FOR ENDNG ing machines which normally dispense short blocky-type articles of merchandise.

The conversion device consists of an 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

elongated transparent tube, which may be plastic, secured to -h t n e We 0 a m m P v. w mw c euk Slll a e M. m d Wd a e d u h m m c v a t f D. o ma s mm mm mmw Vee e n m m e nf m e o v. m u a e b a h s e b a m t s e i mm cwrm h h n i E t adv-l elfl o s .w a t s i dd t e n d m s w ee -l M m a Ca l C r f D. 3 pt. 8 8 0 m m a m .w m h d 0 t t n S le ne n hhr h r wm mm e e ob P m m .H m m and 4 0 -4 5 6 4 0 5 6 w mww I ll l 2 f n umnn H 2 2 2 m h "c "m L l o M x m I .R U h F H U my 5 5 5 l l. 1

below the top of the vending machine to enable ready insertion of merchandise into the tubes form which it is vended.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1926 Wil1iams....................... 7/1929 Aldrich de m.m c a m me hmm W f 8M0 b w a m e C m mom p -.1 m a .m

The tubes are readily removable and re 221/264 x or may be removed from the machine 221/274 X to be used as originally designed PATENIEUJUL 6l97l 3591.046

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I2 EARL JAMES CORBIN PATENTEI] JUL 6|97l 3,591,046

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almhi "mill "W1 i INVENTOR. EARL JAMES CORBIN HIS AGEN1:

CONVERSION ACCESSORY FOR VENDING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This is an improved conversion device for use with vending machines of the general character as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,700,586 to William F. Shepherd, patented Jan. 25, I955. The present invention relates to dispensing machines and more particularly to dispensing machines of the vending machine type, which eject merchandise upon the movement of an ejecting mechanism. It is desirable to provide a tubular member, which is preferably transparent, for vending certain types of merchandise, such as gum, mints, and such other merchandise that may feed down a tube to the ejecting mechanism to be ejected upon insertion of a proper coin, which is usually accompanied by depressing a lever. It is desirable to use a transparent tube of the proper size to com vert various types of vending machines, such as machines which vend cookies, sandwiches, and the like, into merchandising machines for dispensing chewing gum, mints and other articles.

Over a period of years numerous articles were vended for a nickel, and in accepting such unit the machine was actuated, this completed the sale, however, due to the advance in prices of manyarticles, these machines which dispense large, bulky articles, such as cookies, sandwiches, large bars of candy, and the like, have become obsolete, unless they are changed to accept a dime for the merchandise that previously sold for a nickel, which change was very expensive. Therefore, with the conversion of such machines by the use ofa single transparent tube properly positioned in each vending chute, these vending machines can continue to operate as vending machines with a minimum cost and time making the change.

It is difficult to provide a change over" kit that will vend elongated items, while using the same ejection mechanism as for dispensing cookies, cakes and large bars of candy without changing the ejection mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A vending machine conversion kit with a plurality of elongated transparent tubes, which tubes are so positioned, above the ejection mechanism, that the same ejection mechanism will operate to eject an elongated article being vended into a chute. The tube is adjusted a spaced distance above an article support member so that the greater portion of the article being vended extends below the vending tube and rests on the article support member, so upon movement of the ejection mechanism outward, the elongated article being vended is an gulated and slips out of the tube and is discharged by the ejection mechanism. By first angulating the article being ejected any adhesion of the package ends is broken, which permits ready ejection of the merchandise being vended, as distinguished from sliding a pack out from the lower portion of the stack and possibly having to use undue force to remove the package laterally due to the adhesion effect between packages unless they are angulated and in end to end relation.

The transparent tube is suspended near the upper portion of the chute of the vending machine, sufficient room being allowed to load the transparent tube with merchandise. The lower end is spaced upward from the merchandise support base almost the distance of the length of merchandise being vended. This enables the use of a conventional vending machine, which has otherwise become obsolete, because the merchandise formerly vended in the machine could no longer be vended for the coin, for which the machine was designed to operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG, I is a longitudinal, sectional, elevational view of a vending machine, taken on line 1I of FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away and parts shown in section, ofa conventional vending machine which has been converted in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the vending machine, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. I, but of the lower portion of the vending machine, with the merchandise to be vended seated on the merchandise or article support member, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the vending machine, taken substantially on line 1-1 of FIG. 2, showing the merchandise being placed in the tube and showing merchandise being ejected therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as seen most clearly in FIGS. 1,4 and 5, the numeral l0 designates generally a vending machine including a base 12 and legs 14. The vending or dispensing mechanism is contained within a housing 16, which, in the present instance, uses an ejection mechanism generally designated by the numeral 18, which ejection mechanism may be of a character as disclosed in the above mentioned patent. Therefore, the vending mechanism, as disclosed in the patent will be treated only briefly.

The vending machine has a coin receiving mechanism 20 which releases the selector lever 22, which lever is pivoted on a pivot 24 to cause a lever 26 to swing through an arc to move the ejector 28 from the position as shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5.

In the present instance, a pin 30 on lever 26 is slidable in a slot 32 in the ejector 28, as the ejector moves back and forth. Upon release of lever 22, a spring 34 returns ejector 28 to the position as shown in FIG. 4. Transparent tubes 36, such as plastic tubes, are supported on back portion of the respective chutes 38, as by screws 40, so that elongated merchandise, as indicated at 42, such as chewing gum, mints, and the like, may be directed into the upper end of a tube 36 and moved downward therethrough to rest upon merchandise or article support member 44, as will best be seen in FIG. 4. A hole 46 is provided in each tube 36 diametrically opposite screw 40 to enable the insertion ofscrew 40 therethrough and through one side of the tube and threadably engaging a tube support member 48 to bindingly secure the transparent tube within the respective chutes 38.

It is preferable to have a recessed support member 50 positioned intermediate the tube and back portion 38 so as to hold the tube in fixed relation with respect thereto. With the screw 40 tightened the tube will remain at a relatively stable upright position above merchandise or article support member 44.

The diameter of the tube 36, if round, and the cross-sec tional dimensions of the tube, if rectangular, may be varied to suit the particular type merchandise being vended and the lower end may be raised or lowered to accommodate various lengths of merchandise being vended therefrom.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore, illustrative and not restrictive, and, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes which fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by these claims.

I claim:

I. In combination with a dispensing machine having an ejector,

a. a tube on'the dispensing machine, which tube has the lower end thereof a spaced distance above the ejector, I. said tube having two transversely arranged perforations formed therein near the upper end thereof,

tube to the dispensing machine. 2. In combination with a dispensing machine having an ejector, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. the upper end of said tube is spaced downward from the upper end of the dispensing machine a sufficient distance to enable elongated pieces of merchandise to pass thereinto. 

1. In combination with a dispensing machine having an ejector, a. a tube on the dispensing machine, which tube has the lower end thereof a spaced distance above the ejector,
 1. said tube having two transversely arranged perforations formed therein near the upper end thereof,
 2. one of said perforations being of sufficient size for the head of a screw to pass therethrough,
 3. said second perforation being of a size to permit the screw, exclusive of the head, to pass therethrough, b. a screw having a head,
 1. said screw and said head passing through said first transverse perforation in said tube, with the screw, exclusive of the head, passing through said second perforation and into the dispensing machine to secure said tube to the dispensing machine.
 2. one of said perforations being of sufficient size for the head of a screw to pass therethrough,
 2. In combination with a dispensing machine having an ejector, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. the upper end of said tube is spaced downward from the upper end of the dispensing machine a sufficient distance to enable elongated pieces of merchandise to pass thereinto.
 3. said second perforation being of a size to permit the screw, exclusive of the head, to pass therethrough, b. a screw having a head, 